London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Chelsea 1954
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1954
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MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE SERVICES (Ccntinued)
| Number of children visited during the year | 2,670 | |
| Number of households iuvolved | 2,046 | |
| Foster Mothers: | ||
| Number of registered foster mothers | 8 | |
| Number of children fostered | 15 | |
| Diphtheria Immunisations: | ||
| Number of children who completed a primary course of injections | 677 | |
| Number of children who received reinforcing injections | 657 | |
| Vaccinations: | ||
| Number of children vaccinated at the Violet Melchett Infant Welfare Centre | 440 | |
It is of great interest to note that the figures for Diphtheria Immunisation are greatly in excess of those for 1953, as can be seen from the following brief tables:-
| Year | Primary Injections | Reinforcing Injections | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 677 | 657 | ||
| 1953 | 461 | 277 | ||
| Increases: | 216 | 380 | ||
| Percentages: | 46 | 137 | ||
Having regard to the fact that public concern in preventive
measures is usually aroused only when the incidence of a particular
disease is high, it is all the more satisfying to learn of such an
encouraging response to a much publicised service under the present
circumstances.